FR3011809A1 - CYCLE FRAME WITH FASTENING ELEMENT FOR ATTACHING AN ACCESSORY - Google Patents

Abstract

A cycle frame (12) having at least one attachment member (100) for detachably attaching an attachment (18) to said frame (12), the attachment member comprising a first attachment member (200) ) secured to a portion (12a) of the cycle frame and a second fastener for attachment to said accessory, said second fastener being arranged to detachably engage with the first fastener. The first fastener (200) includes a retaining surface (210) facing said portion of the frame (12a). The second fixing member (300) is arranged to engage with the first fixing member (200) and comprises at least one holding element (304, 304a) arranged to be positioned between the retaining surface (210). and the part of the frame (12a) when the second fastener is engaged with the first fastener, to lock the second fastener with the first fastener.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the field of cycles, and more particularly that of the attachment of an accessory to a cycle frame. The present invention more specifically relates to a cycle frame comprising at least one fastening element for detachably attaching an accessory to the frame, the fastening element comprising a first fastener integral with a part of the frame and a second member. fastener for attachment to said accessory, said second fastener being arranged to detachably engage the first fastener. Accessory means in particular, but not exclusively, a luggage rack, a basket holder, a fender, a lamp, a crutch, or any other type of device to be attached to the frame, for example to improve the comfort of the cyclist without being essential to the conduct of the cycle. These accessories are not intended to be permanently attached to the cycle, they must be able to be detached easily and quickly without requiring additional specific tool. US 2010/0237120 discloses a cycle frame having a fastening member for detachably attaching an accessory to the frame. In this document, the first fastener has the shape of a slide in which is inserted a finger of a coupling portion belonging to the second fastener. A disadvantage of this fastener is that the direction of finger engagement in the slide is generally parallel to the frame tube to which the slide is attached. This method of attachment is problematic in cases where the accessory has a large footprint and hitting other tubes of the frame. When the frame tubes are very close to each other, the accessory may become blocked by the tubes so that sliding insertion can be difficult or impossible. OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to remedy this drawback by proposing a cycle frame provided with at least one fastening element offering an alternative method of attachment. The invention achieves its object by the fact that: said first fixing member comprises a body extending along an axis transverse to the portion of the frame, and a retaining portion disposed at one end of the frame; body remote from the frame portion, said holding portion having at least one retaining surface facing said frame portion; said second fastener is arranged to engage with the first fastener member in a direction of engagement substantially parallel to the axis, the second fastener member having a housing configured to receive the retaining portion of the first member; fixing device, said second fixing member comprising at least one holding element arranged to be positioned between the retaining surface and the part of the frame when the second fixing member is engaged with the first fixing member, so as to lock the second fastener with the first fastener. Also, it is understood that the accessory is engaged in a direction transverse to the portion of the frame, preferably perpendicular. When the first fastener is attached to a tube of the frame, it is understood that the direction of engagement is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tube. It is understood that the locking is obtained by the fact that the holding element abuts against the retaining surface when an axial traction directed in the direction of engagement, in a direction opposite to the engagement, is exerted on the second fixing member; this has the effect of preventing the axial withdrawal of the second fastener.

Preferably, to detach the second fastener of the first fastener, the user acts to move the holding member away, so that the latter is no longer between the retaining surface and the part of the frame. Preferably, the holding element is mounted on elastic means which hold it in position. Still preferably, the operator must actuate said elastic means to be able to detach the second fastener.

Preferably, the holding member protrudes into the housing. Advantageously, when the second fastener is locked to the first fastener, the second fastener may nevertheless pivot relative to the first fastener. In other words, in this case, the locking of the second fastening member with respect to the first fastening member is a solely axial locking, which means that the holding member, in the locked position and in the absence of specific action on the part of the user, opposes the removal of the second fastener. Of course, a slight axial clearance 10 may exist between the second fastener and the first fastener. Advantageously, the retaining surface constitutes a shoulder formed on the retaining portion of the first fixing member. It will be understood that the axial locking is obtained by the fact that the holding element abuts against the shoulder when axial traction is exerted on the second fixing member. Preferably, the retaining portion has a generally frustoconical shape and the body has a generally cylindrical shape; the maximum diameter of the retaining portion being greater than the diameter of the body. Preferably, the holding element is a lug having an inclined face intended to cooperate with the retaining portion to facilitate engagement of the second fastener member on the first fastener. Advantageously, the body comprises a groove, and the holding element is arranged to be housed in the groove when the second fastener is engaged with the first fastener. It is understood that the retaining surface is constituted by the lateral surface of the groove which is turned towards the part of the frame. Here again, the axial locking is obtained by the fact that the holding element abuts against this lateral surface of the groove when axial traction is exerted on the second fixing member. Advantageously, the first fastening member has a geometry of revolution about the axis of the body of the first fastening member. Preferably, but not exclusively, the body has a cylindrical shape, whereby the second fastener can easily pivot relative to the first fastener. An interest is to be able to adjust the positioning of the holding element. Another advantage is to be able to easily adjust the position of the accessory relative to the frame. For fixing it to the cycle frame, the first fixing member preferably comprises a bore, which opens out axially on either side of the first fixing member, and the first fixing member further comprises a locking piece extending into drilling to secure the first fastener to the frame. Preferably, the locking piece is a screw having a screw head, and the bore has a first cavity, formed at least partly in the retaining portion, which is intended to receive the screw head. The screw further comprises a threaded portion which is intended to cooperate with a tapping formed in the part of the frame. To facilitate engagement of the second fastener with the first fastener, the retainer portion has an inclined surface that extends about the body axis of the first fastener.

By inclined surface is meant a beveled surface, or a curved, concave or convex surface. Moreover, this inclined surface can be continuous or discontinuous. This inclined surface makes it possible to gradually remove the holding element during the engagement of the second fastener member on the first fastener. To do this, the holding member is preferably elastically deformable, or mounted on an elastically deformable support, or mounted on an elastically deformable support. Preferably, the retaining portion has a conical or frustoconical shape. Advantageously, the housing comprises a peripheral wall, and the holding element protrudes radially from an inner surface of said peripheral wall. Thus, when the second fastener is engaged, the holding member 35 retracts radially to the passage of the retaining portion and then extends radially towards the axis so as to be housed between the retaining portion. 9 5 frame and the retaining surface. This radial movement may optionally be associated with a pivoting movement of the holding element along an axis perpendicular to the direction of engagement. According to a first embodiment of the invention, the second fixing member comprises a base and a plurality of wings extending angularly from said base, so that the wings surround the retaining portion when the second fixing member is engaged with first fixing member; and at least one of the wings carries said holding member. These wings project from the periphery of the base and together define the housing. Advantageously, each wing carries a holding element arranged to be positioned between the retaining surface and the part of the frame when the second fastener is engaged with the first fixing member, so that said wing is held axially by the portion of detention. Advantageously, at least one of the wings is elastically deformable so as to engage, and detachably, the second fastener with the first fastener; said elastically deformable flange comprises a first end, opposite to the base, which carries the holding element of said elastically deformable flange. Preferably, only one of the wings is elastically deformable, the other or the other wings being rigid. To facilitate the deformation of the resiliently deformable wing during the removal of the second fastener, the elastically deformable flange further comprises an actuating portion which extends from the first end of the elastically deformable flange. away from the part of the frame. The removal of the second fastener is achieved by exerting pressure on the actuating portion directed in a direction orthogonal to the direction of engagement. This has the effect of pivoting the elastically deformable wing, and move the holding member until it is no longer between the retaining surface and the part of the frame. The second fastener can then be decoupled and removed from the first fastener.

According to a preferred embodiment, the second fixing member comprises at least one rigid wing which is arranged facing the elastically deformable wing. Advantageously, the rigid wing carries another holding element which is arranged opposite the holding element of the elastically deformable wing, so that, when the second fixing member is engaged with the first fixing member, the elements for holding the elastically deformable flange and the rigid flange are positioned between the retaining surface and the part of the frame, whereby the second fastener is locked with the first fastener. Preferably, but not exclusively, the second fixing member comprises a single rigid wing and a single elastically deformable wing. According to another embodiment, the second fixing member comprises a peripheral wall, and the holding element is connected to a flexible blade which is elastically deformable, said flexible blade bearing on the peripheral wall. The flexible blade exerts a force on the holding member which is oriented such that said holding member is brought between the frame portion and the retaining surface. To detach the second fastener, the user preferably exerts a force on the flexible blade so as to deform, which has the effect of spreading the holding member. Advantageously, the second fixing member further comprises a push button connected to the holding member, the push button traversing the peripheral wall while being movable in a diametrical direction of the peripheral wall, and the flexible blade is supported on a part of the peripheral wall which is opposed to the push button, whereby pressure on the push button radially disengages the retaining member from the retaining surface. Thus, to detach the second fastener, it is appropriate to exert pressure on the push button, which has the effect of deforming the flexible blade and to release the holding element so that it no longer opposes axial removal of the second fastener. The invention also relates to an assembly comprising an accessory and a cycle frame according to the invention, the second fixing member being attached to the accessory. Preferably, the second fastener is rotatably mounted to the accessory. An interest is to be able to adjust the position of the second fastener when attached to the frame, for example to bring the elastically deformable wing or the push button in a position more easily accessible to the user. Finally, the invention relates to a bicycle which comprises a cycle frame 10 according to the invention, and a pair of wheels mounted on the cycle frame. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of embodiments of the invention given as non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. a bicycle according to the invention comprising a cycle frame to which is attached an accessory with the aid of an exemplary fastener element according to the invention; FIGS. 2A to 2E illustrate a first embodiment of a fastening element of the cycle frame according to the invention, which comprises a first fastener fastened to the frame of the bicycle and a second fastener provided with a elastically deformable wing which carries a holding element; FIG. 3A illustrates a variant of the fastening element of FIG. 2A in which the elastically deformable flange further comprises an actuating portion; - Figure 3B illustrates the decoupling of the second fastener; FIGS. 4A illustrates a second embodiment of a fastening element of the cycle frame according to the invention, which comprises a first fastener fastened to the frame of the bicycle and a second fastening member comprising a peripheral wall from which extend holding elements; - Figure 4B is a longitudinal sectional view of the holding member of Figure 4A; and FIGS. 5A to 5C illustrate variants of second fixing members of the fastening element of FIG. 4A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 shows an example of a bicycle 10 according to the invention, which comprises a cycle frame 12 and a pair of wheels 14, 16 mounted on the cycle frame 12. bicycle 10 further comprises an accessory 18, in this case a fender, which is attached to the cycle frame. The reference E corresponds to the assembly consisting of the accessory 18 and the cycle frame 12. The accessory 18 is fixed to the cycle frame detachably via at least one attachment element 100 which will be described more in detail below. The fixing element comprises a support 20 which is connected to the accessory 18 by means of rods 22. With the help of FIGS. 2A to 2E, the fixing element 100 will be described in more detail. embodiment shown in Figures 2A to 2E, the fixing member 100 comprises a first fastener 200 which is secured to a portion 12a of the cycle frame 12. In this example, the part of the cycle frame is the one that supports the rear wheel of the bike. Of course, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first fastener could be disposed at another location of the cycle frame.

In this example, the first fastening member 200 is fixed to the part of the frame 12a by means of a screw 202. To do this, the first fastening member 200 comprises a hole 204 which opens axially on both sides. another of the first fastener, the screw 202 forming a locking piece, extending into the bore 204 to secure the first fastener 200 to a thread formed in the part of the frame. The first fastener 200 comprises a cylindrical body 206 which extends along an axis A which is transverse to the part of the frame. In this example, the axis A is perpendicular to the portion of the frame 12a.

Without departing from the scope of the present invention, this axis A could be inclined relative to the part of the frame.

The first fixing member 200 further comprises a retaining portion 208 which is disposed at an end 206a of the body which is remote from the part of the frame. As can be seen in these figures, the retaining portion 5 has an inclined surface 208a which extends around the axis A of the body of the first fastener. More generally, it can be seen that the first fixing member 200 has a geometry of revolution about the axis A of the body of the first fixing member 200. When the second fixing member 300 is engaged with the first fixing member, said second fixing member is locked axially, while possibly being able to turn on itself. Referring more particularly to FIGS. 2A and 2E, it can be seen that the retaining portion has a generally frustoconical shape. As can be seen in FIGS. 2A and 2E, the retaining portion 208 has a maximum diameter that is greater than the diameter of the body 206, so that the retaining portion has a shoulder 210. In this example, the shoulder 210 s It extends annularly around the axis A. This shoulder 210 forms a retaining surface 210 which faces the frame portion 12a. In this example, the radial height of the retaining surface 210 is of the order of 2.5 mm. Referring to FIG. 2E, it can be seen that the bore 204 comprises a first cavity 204a which is formed at least partly in the retaining portion, and which is intended to receive the screw head 202a of the screw 202. In FIG. in this example, the inclined surface 208a of the retaining portion is continuous and flat, but it could be slightly curved. According to the invention, the fastening element 100 further comprises a second fastener 300 which is arranged to detachably engage the first fastener 200. As can be understood from FIG. With the aid of FIG. 2A, engagement of the second fastener member with the first fastener is in a direction of engagement D which is substantially parallel to the axis A of the body. More precisely, in this example, the engagement direction D and substantially coincides with the axis A of the body. FIGS. 2B and 2C show the second fixing member 300 engaged with the first fixing member 200.

According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the second fastening member 300 can be detached from the first fastening member 200. This has been illustrated in FIG. 2D. Referring again to FIG. 2D, it can be seen that the second fastener 300 has a housing 302 which is configured to receive the retaining portion 208 of the first fastener 200 when the second fastener is engaged with the first fastener fastener. Once engaged on the first fastener, the second fastener 300 remains engaged with the first fastener by virtue of the fact that the second fastener comprises a plurality of retaining elements 304a which protrude radially into the housing 302. As 2C, the retaining elements 304 are arranged to be positioned between the retaining surface 210 and the part of the frame 12a when the second fastening member is engaged with the first fastening member. , which makes it possible to lock the second fastener with the first fastener. Indeed, the holding elements 304 oppose the axial withdrawal of the second fastener relative to the first fastener by abutting against the retaining surface. It will be understood that the second fastener is elastically deformed to allow passage of the holding members behind the retaining portion. Referring now to FIG. 2E, which illustrates in an exploded view the first and second fasteners, it can be seen that the second fastener 300 has a base 310 which is provided with an aperture 312 for mounting it to the The aperture 312 has an axis B which is substantially coaxial with the axis A of the body when the second fastener 300 is joined to the first fastener 200. More specifically, the second fastener has a geometry. of revolution around the B axis.

From this base 310 extend angularly a first wing 314 and a second wing 316. As can be understood from FIGS. 2b and 2c, the first and second wings 314, 316 surround the retaining portion 208 of the first wing member 314. fixation when the second fastener 300 is engaged with the first fastener 200. Each wing 314, 316 carries at its end a holding member 304,304a which is positioned between the retaining surface 210 and the part of the frame 12a when the second fastener is engaged with the first fastener. Each of the wings is thus retained axially by the retaining portion. In this example, the retaining elements 304, 304a are lugs which protrude radially in the housing from the ends of the wings towards the axis B.

The second flange 316 is elastically deformable so as to detachably engage the second fastener with the first fastener. It is therefore understood that when the retaining element 304a, which is disposed at a first end 316a of the resiliently deformable flange 316 opposite the base, comes into contact with the inclined surface 208a of the retaining portion, said retaining element is radially away from the axis B by elastic deformation of the wing 316 and is returned to the axis B once the holding element axially frees the shoulder. In this example, the first flange 314 of the second fastener 300 is rigid. In other words it does not deform when the second fastener comes into contact with the first fastener. In this example, the first flange 314 extends about 180 °, while the second flange 316 has an angular span of about 30 °. Referring to FIG. 2D, it can be seen that the holding element 304 of the first wing, the rigid wing 314, is arranged facing the holding element 304a of the elastically deformable wing 316, so that when the second fastener is engaged with the first fastening member, the holding members 304, 304a of the elastically deformable flange 316 and the rigid flange 314 are positioned between the retaining surface 210 and the portion of the fastener. 12a frame, whereby the second fastener is axially locked with the first fastener. FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a variant of the fastening element 100. This variant differs from the embodiment of FIGS. 2a to 2e in that the elastically deformable flange 316 further comprises a portion of actuation 320 which extends from the first end 316a of the elastically deformable wing 316 away from the portion of the frame 12a. This actuating portion therefore extends in a direction substantially parallel to the axis B of the base 310. When a force F, oriented perpendicular to the axis of the base, is exerted on this actuating portion, elastically deformable wing 316 is slightly deformed by pivoting which has the effect of spreading the holding elements 304,304a one of the other. The distance between the holding member 304a of the elastically deformable wing 316 and the holding member 34 of the rigid wing 314 increases; whereby it is possible to detach the second fastener from the first fastener, as shown in Figure 3B. With the aid of FIGS. 4A and 4B, a second embodiment of the fastening element 100 'of the cycle frame 12 will now be described. The fastening element 100' is also configured to detachably attach an accessory. in the frame of the bike. In this second embodiment, the fixing element 100 'comprises a first fixing member 200' which comprises a cylindrical body 206 'in which a groove 205' is formed. The first fixing member 200 'also comprises a retaining portion 208' again having a frustoconical shape. Similarly to the first embodiment, the first fastener 200 'is mounted to the part of the frame by means of a locking piece consisting of a screw. The retaining portion 208 'also has a retaining surface 210' which is constituted by the side wall of the groove facing the portion of the frame 12a. The fixing element 100 'further comprises a second fixing member 300', arranged to engage with the first fixing member 200 'in a direction of engagement substantially coaxial with the axis A of the first member fixation. The second fixing member 300 'furthermore has a housing 302' which comprises a peripheral wall 303 'of cylindrical geometry with a B axis. The second fixing member 300' furthermore comprises holding elements 304 'and 304'a which protrude radially into the housing 302 'from the peripheral wall 303'. These holding elements 304 ', 304'a are arranged to be positioned in the groove 205' when the second fastener is engaged with the first fastener so that the holding elements are between the retaining surface 210 'and the part of the frame. This allows axially locking the second fastener with the first fastener. Thanks to the cylindrical geometries, it is understood that the second fixing member can pivot about the axis A relative to the first fixing member. In this example, one of the holding elements 304 'has a certain elasticity which allows to be able to detach the second fastener of the first fastener. FIGS. 5A, 5C describe variants of the second fixing member 300 ", 300 ', 300" in which the holding elements are connected to flexible blades and bear on the peripheral wall. The second fastening member 300 ", 300 ', 300" "further comprises a push button 309", 309', 309 "connected to the holding member 304", 304 ', 304 ", which passes through the peripheral wall while by being displaceable in a diametral direction X of the peripheral wall, while the flexible blade is supported on a portion of the peripheral wall opposite the push button, whereby pressure on the push button can deform the flexible blade. has the effect of disengaging the radially holding member from the retaining surface of the first fastener, whereby the second fastener of the first fastener can be removed.

Claims (19)

REVENDICATIONS1. A cycle frame (12) having at least one attachment member (100, 100 ') for detachably attaching an accessory (18) to said frame (12), the fastener comprising a first fastener (200, 200') secured to a portion (12a) of the cycle frame and a second fastener to be attached to said accessory, said second fastener being arranged to detachably engage with the first fastener, the frame of characterized in that: - said first fastener (200, 200 ') comprises a body (206, 206') extending along an axis (A) transverse to the portion of the frame, and a retaining portion (208, 208 ') disposed at one end (206a) of the body remote from the frame portion, said holding portion having at least one retaining surface (210, 210') facing said frame portion (12a); said second fastening member (300, 300 ', 300 ", 300', 300") is arranged to engage with the first fixing member (200, 200 ') in a direction of engagement (D) substantially parallel to the axis (A), the second fastener having a housing (302, 302 ') configured to receive the retaining portion (208, 208') of the first fastener (200, 2001, said second fastener comprising at least one holding element (304, 304a, 304 ', 304'a) arranged to be positioned between the retaining surface (210, 210') and the part of the frame (12a) when the second fastening member is engaged with the first fastener, for locking the second fastener with the first fastener. 2. Cycle frame according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining surface constitutes a shoulder (210) formed on the retaining portion of the first fixing member. 3. Cycle frame according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the body (206 ') comprises a groove (205'), and in that the holding element is arranged to be housed in the groove when the second fastener is engaged with the first fastener. 4. Cycle frame according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first fixing member (200, 200 ') has a geometry of revolution about the axis (A) of the body of the first member of the body. fixation. 5. Cycle frame according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first fixing member (200,200 ') comprises a bore (204,204'1 which opens axially on either side of the first fixing member , and in that the first fixing member further comprises a locking piece extending in the bore (204,204 ') in order to secure the first fixing member (200,200') to the frame (12). The cycle frame according to claim 5, characterized in that the locking piece is a screw (202) having a screw head (202a), and in that the bore (204) has a first cavity (204a), arranged at least partly in the retaining portion (208), which is intended to receive the screw head. Cycle frame according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the retaining portion (208, 208 ') has an inclined surface (208a, 208'a) which extends around the axis (A ) of the body of the first fastener. 8. Cycle frame according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the housing (302 ') comprises a peripheral wall (3031 and in that the holding element protrudes radially from an inner surface of said peripheral wall. 9. Cycle frame according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the second fixing member (300) comprises a base (310) and a plurality of wings (314, 316) extending angularly from said base, so that the wings surround the retaining portion (208) when the second fastener (300) is engaged with the first fastener (200), and in that at least one of the wings bears said holding element. 10. Frame cycle according to claim 9, characterized in that each wing (314, 316) carries a holding element (304,304a) arranged to be positioned between the retaining surface (210) and the part of the frame (12a ) when the second fastener is engaged with first fastener, so that said flange (314, 316) is retained axially by the retaining portion. 11. Cycle frame according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that at least one of the flanges (316) is elastically deformable so as to be able to detachably engage the second fastener with the first fastener member. fixation, in that said elastically deformable flange comprises a first end (316a), opposite the base, which carries the holding element (304, 304a) of said elastically deformable wing. 12. Cycle frame according to claim 11, characterized in that the elastically deformable flange (316) further comprises an actuating portion (320) extending from the first end (316a) of the elastically deformable flange. (316) away from the frame portion (12a). 13. Cycle frame according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the second fastening member (300) comprises at least one rigid flange (314) which is arranged facing the elastically deformable flange. 14.The cycle frame according to claim 13, characterized in that the rigid wing (314) carries another holding element (304) which is arranged facing the holding element (304) of the elastically deformable flange ( 316), so that when the second fastener is engaged with a first fastening member, the holding members (304, 304) of the elastically deformable wing (316) and the rigid wing (314) are positioned. between the retaining surface (210) and the part of the frame (12a), whereby the second fastener is locked with the first fastener. Cycle frame according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the second fixing member (300 ", 300 ', 300") comprises a peripheral wall (303 ", 303', 303"), and in that the holding element (304 ', 304'a) is connected to a flexible blade (307 ", 307", 307 "") which is elastically deformable, said flexible blade being supported on the peripheral wall. 16.The cycle frame according to claim 15, characterized in that the second fixing member further comprises a push button (309 ", 309 ', 309"), connected to the holding member, the push button (309) passing through the peripheral wall while being displaceable in a diametrical direction (x) of the peripheral wall, and in that the flexible blade bears on a portion (303 "a, 303ma, 303" "a) of the peripheral wall which is opposed to the push button, whereby a pressure on the push button allows to release the holding element radially of the retaining surface. 17. Assembly (E) comprising an accessory (18) and a cycle frame (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 16, the second fixing member (300, 300 ', 300 ", 300'", 300 '"') being attached to the accessory. 18. The assembly of claim 17, characterized in that the second fastener (300, 300 ', 300 ", 300", 300 ") is rotatably mounted to the accessory. 19. The bicycle (10) has a cycle frame (12) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16 and a pair of wheels (14,16) mounted on the cycle frame (12). 5